Questions Midterm

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1)Differences of Quantitative research and Qualitative research

Quantitative research Qualitative Research

Focuses on testing theories and hypotheses Focuses on exploring ideas and formulating a
theory or hypothesis

Is analyzed through math and statistical Is analyzed by summarizing, categorizing and


analysis interpreting

Mainly expressed in numbers, graphs and Mainly expressed in words


tables

Requires many respondents Requires few respondents

Closed (multiple choice) questions Open-ended questions

Key terms are: testing, measurement, Key terms are: understanding, context,
objectivity, replicability complexity, subjectivity

Data collection methods


Quantitative and qualitative data can be collected using various methods. It is important to use
a data collection method that will help answer your research question(s).

Quantitative data collection methods

 Surveys: List of closed or multiple choice questions that is distributed to


a sample (online, in person, or over the phone).
 Experiments: Situation in which variables are controlled and manipulated to establish
cause-and-effect relationships.
 Observations: Observing people in a natural environment where variables can’t be
controlled.
 Content analysis: Systematically recording the presence of certain words or themes in
a set of texts to analyze communication patterns.

Qualitative data collection methods

 Interviews: Asking open-ended questions verbally to respondents.


 Focus groups: Discussion among a group of people about a topic to gather opinions
that can be used for further research.
 Case studies: In-depth study about a person, group, event or organization.
 Literature review: Survey of published works by other authors.
https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/qualitative-quantitative-research/

Comparison Chart
BASIS FOR QUALITATIVE QUANTITATIVE
COMPARISON RESEARCH RESEARCH

Meaning Qualitative research is a Quantitative research is a


method of inquiry that research method that is used
develops understanding to generate numerical data
on human and social and hard facts, by employing
sciences, to find the way statistical, logical and
people think and feel. mathematical technique.

Nature Holistic Particularistic

Approach Subjective Objective

Research type Exploratory Conclusive

Reasoning Inductive Deductive

Sampling Purposive Random

Data Verbal Measurable

Inquiry Process-oriented Result-oriented

Hypothesis Generated Tested

Elements of Words, pictures and Numerical data


analysis objects

Objective To explore and discover To examine cause and effect


ideas used in the ongoing relationship between
processes. variables.
BASIS FOR QUALITATIVE QUANTITATIVE
COMPARISON RESEARCH RESEARCH

Methods Non-structured Structured techniques such


techniques like In-depth as surveys, questionnaires
interviews, group and observations.
discussions etc.

Result Develops initial Recommends final course of


understanding action

https://www.snapsurveys.com/blog/qualitative-vs-quantitative-research/

2) Which is the topics we can use Quantitative research and Qualitative


research
As I researched topics will be same, but their approaches will be different

Quantitative research approach


You survey 300 students at your university and ask them questions such as: “on a scale from
1-5, how satisfied are you with your professors?”

You can perform statistical analysis on the data and draw conclusions such as: “on average
students rated their professors 4.4”.

Qualitative research approach


You conduct in-depth interviews with 15 students and ask them open-ended questions such
as: “How satisfied are you with your studies?”, “What is the most positive aspect of your
study program?” and “What can be done to improve the study program?”

Based on the answers you get you can ask follow-up questions to clarify things. You
transcribe all interviews using transcription software and try to find commonalities and
patterns.

3) What is their measurements


Qualitative measures typically deal with textual data or words while Quantitative measures
analyze numerical data or statistics.
4) What is Determinism and Epiricism

Determinism, in philosophy, theory that all events, including moral choices, are completely
determined by previously existing causes. Determinism is usually understood to preclude free
will because it entails that humans cannot act otherwise than they do. The theory holds that
the universe is utterly rational because complete knowledge of any given situation assures that
unerring knowledge of its future is also possible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bwOIE9GXKM

Empiricism, in philosophy, the view that all concepts originate in experience, that all
concepts are about or applicable to things that can be experienced, or that all rationally
acceptable beliefs or propositions are justifiable or knowable only through experience. This
broad definition accords with the derivation of the term empiricism from the ancient Greek
word empeiria, “experience.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWiqrZhoZkQ

5)Science in your own words:


Way of testing and explaining the naturalistic world, via the scientific method. Ideally
evidence is discovered, and then hypothesis (educated) about that evidence is proposed. The
hypothesis is then tested via proposing on how it can be negated, and providing test results.
The results are then tested via peer review( other scientist in relevant field check your paper
for methodological, calculation or information errors) if the paper, or book passes then the
results are published for a wider scientific community witch again can test the papers
assumptions and redo for the results. Thus a cycle is created where evidences and
explanations are gathered and tested till they form the highest overall standard, which is called
a theory.

6)Functions of science:
A) Purely scientific:
• Problem and problematic questions research , hypothesis proposal;
•New data collection, testing and experimenting for assessing hypothesis;
• Results and Conclusions research;
•technological: research equipment and methods;
•Historical data collection and history of science research;
•scientific paper writing.
B) Social functions:
•Propagation of Scientific services to the public;
•Training of science specialist in order to propagate and continuation of science;
• Cultivation scientifically minded public;
•Acknowledgment, fulfilment, glorification.

7)Quality science qualisifiactions and describe them


Scientific:
a. Theoretical (fundamental): analysis of theoretical problems and derivation of
theories (creation of new knowledge)
b. Practical – improvement and implementation of theoretical science.
(improvement via use of theoretical science)

/Also I think you could write the science area/ : Hmanitarian, Social, PHYSICAL,
BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES, (TECHNOLOGICAL SCIENCES).

8)What parts are included in science papers and info about 3-5 of
them:

Title
The abstract is a single paragraph that precedes the article and summarizes the content. The
abstract reduces the whole paper to a single paragraph. Many times, the abstract will be
published by itself in an index to the article and often only the words in the abstract can be
searched using library databases; hence, the abstract is a critical element of the research paper.
It contains a general introduction to the topic, outlines the major results, and summarizes the
conclusions. It is shorter than the summary and conclusions section of the main paper and is
less of an outline than the closing paragraph of the introduction.

Keywords – words you add to the program so search engine would find it more easily .

Introduction – First sentence should grab the attention of the redder and the first paragraph
should identify the problem this paper researches. The remaining paragraphs should focus on
the state-of-the-art knowledge base and the significant differences between what has already
been published and the new contribution that your article is presenting. Together, these
paragraphs give another guiding principle: The literature review identifies the seminal
historical contributions, outlines the state of knowledge, and justifies the novelty of the
article’s contribution. The introduction ends with the road map paragraph, it outlines the
remaining sections of the paper.

Methods - The methods sections often come disguised with other article-specific section titles,
but serve a unified purpose: to detail the methods used in an objective manner without
introduction of interpretation or opinion (van Wagenen 1990). The methods sections should
tell the reader clearly how the results were obtained. They should be specific. They should
also make adequate reference to accepted methods and identify differences.
Results - In general, the pure, unbiased results should be presented first without interpretation
(van Wagenen 1990). These results should present the raw data or the results after applying
the techniques outlined in the methods section. Where applicable, results should be illustrated
in terms of non-dimensional variables. These characteristics lead to our principle for results
sections: Results should be clear, convincing, and general and should be free from
interpretations or opinions

Discussion The discussion section is where the article interprets the results to reach its major
conclusions. This is also where the author’s opinion enters the picture (vanWagenen 1990)—
the discussion is where the argument is made. Often writers will combine the discussion and
results sections so that they can avoid repetition and so that they can give their conclusions
parallel with the results.

Summary and conclusions - The final section of the paper does not introduce any new
information or insights: it merely summarizes and concludes. This section is longer than the
abstract and generally includes more specific conclusions. It is often more quantitative than
the abstract, however, listing equations or citations should not be necessary. good format for
this section is to write it in two paragraphs. The first paragraph summarizes various sections
of the article. The second paragraph draws the important conclusions

Acknowlodgments The acknowledgments are given at the end of the research paper and should
at a minimum name the sources of funding that contributed to the article. You may also
recognize other people who contributed to the article or data contained in the article, but at a
level of effort that does not justify their inclusion as authors.

Refrences All reference works cited in the paper must appear in a list of references that follow
the formatting requirements of the journal in which the article is to be published. You may not
include references that were not cited. Refereed journal articles, research monographs, and
books are preferred over less stable or reliable sources, such as personal communications,
unrefereed conference proceedings, or web-site addresses.

9) Difference between Scientific Style Research & Basic Research?


Also what is Scientific Style?
Scientific research is the systematic investigation of scientific theories and hypotheses. A
hypothesis is a single assertion, a proposed explanation of something based on available
knowledge, for something yet to be explained. One that is subject to further experimentation.
The scientific method, When conducting research, scientists use the scientific method to
collect measurable, empirical evidence in an experiment related to a hypothesis (often in the
form of an if/then statement), the results aiming to support or contradict a theory.
Scientific research is a logically stepped process used for investigating and acquiring or
expanding our understanding. ... Nonscientific research is acquiring knowledge and truths
about the world using techniques that do not follow the scientific method.
Basic Research can be explained as research that tries to expand the already existing scientific
knowledge base. On the contrary, applied research is used to mean the scientific study that is
helpful in solving real-life problems. While basic research is purely theoretical, applied
research has a practical approach

10) Difference between Positive paradigm & Non-positive


paradigm. Explain?

Positive Paradigm:
Positivism. The positive paradigm is based on the philosophical ideas of the French
philosopher August Comte. Emphasized observation and reason are means of understanding
human behavior. True knowledge is based on experience of senses and can be obtained by
observation and experiment. Verified data (positive facts) received from the senses are known
as empirical evidence. Thus positivism is based on empiricism. Positive knowledge is based
on natural phenomena and their properties and relations, interpreted through reasons and
logical observation. Positivist thinkers adopt scientific method as a means of knowledge
generation. Hence it has to be understood within the frame work of the principles and
assumptions of science. Positivism holds that valid knowledge is found only in derived
knowledge or exclusive source/authoritative knowledge.

The ultimate goal of science is to integrate and systematize finding in to a meaning full
pattern or theory which is regarded as tentative and not the ultimate truth. Theory is subject to
revision and modification as new evidence is found. Positive paradigm thus systematizes the
knowledge generation process with the help of quantification, which is essentially to enhance
precision in the description of parameters and discernment of the relationship among them.

In educational research, the type of research such as Quantitative, surveys, longitudinal, cross-
sectional, correlational, experimental, quasi-experimental and ex-post facto research are the
examples of positivism (Relationship between students’ motivation and their academic
achievement, Effect of intelligence on academic performance of primary school learners).
Although positive paradigm continued to influence educational research for a long time in the
latter half of 20th century, it was criticized due to its lack of regards for the subjective states
of individuals. It regards human behavior as passive, controlled and determined by external
environment. Hence human beings are dehumanized without their intention, individualism
and freedom taken in to account in viewing and interpreting social reality.

According to the critics of this paradigm, objectivity needs to be replaced by subjectivity in


the process of scientific enquiry. This gives rise to non positivism or naturalistic enquiry.

Non positivism:
Exponent of Non Positivism is Max Weber. Non positivists emphasized that social reality is
viewed and interpreted by the individual himself/herself according to the ideological positions
he/she possess. Therefore knowledge is personally experienced rather than acquired from or
imposed from outside. The non positivist believes that reality is multi layered and complex
and a single phenomenon is having multiple interpretations. They emphasize that the
verification of a phenomenon is adopted when the level of understanding of a phenomenon is
such that the concern is to probe into the various unexplored dimensions of a phenomenon
rather than establishing specific relationship among the components, as it happens in the case
of positivism. Non positivism is marked by three schools of thought. They are
phenomenology, ethno methodology and symbolic interactionism. All these schools
emphasize human interactions with phenomenon in their daily lives and suggest qualitative
rather than quantitative approaches to social inquiry. Qualitative, biographical,
phenomenological, ethnographical, case study approaches are the examples of non positive
approaches (A study of drop out among the female students, A case study of open distance
learning institutions in the country, A study of auto biography of a great statesman) The two
paradigms presented here are concerned with two concept of social reality, while positivism
stand for objectivity, measurability, predictability, controllability and construct laws and rules
of human behavior, non positivist essentially emphasize understanding and interpretation of
phenomena and making meaning out of this process.

11/13)What is qualitative data collection? Define 3 types of


qualitative data? Explain?

Qualitative Data:
Data that approximates or characterizes but does not measure the attributes, characteristics,
properties, etc., of a thing or phenomenon. Quantitative Research is used to quantify the
problem by way of generating numerical data or data that can be transformed into usable
statistics.

Different methods are used in qualitative research. The most common are interviews, focus
group discussions, observational methods and document analysis. Combining two or more
data collections methods, for instance interviews as well as focus groups (‘data triangulation’)
enhances the credibility of the study. Irrespective of the data collection method applied, it is
important to keep a diary during the study, with reflections on the process (e.g. regarding
method and participant selection) and the role and influence of the researcher.

Interviews:Interviews are useful to explore experiences, views, opinions, or beliefs on


specific matters. Accounts can be explored and compared to others, to develop an
understanding of the underlying structures of beliefs. There are different grades of structuring
the interview: structured, semi-structured or open/in-depth, dependent on the characteristics of
structuring the interview by the researcher. Often the researcher develops a topic list before
the start of the interview, which can be used in a flexible manner. As the interview is a
product of interaction between the researcher and the interviewee, the setting and skills of the
researcher are of importance (e.g. the ability to build a sense of trust (developing rapport), the
way of phrasing questions, give the interviewee room to tell a story, body language).
Furthermore, it is important to think about the type of transcription of audio tapes.

Focus group discussions:


Focus group discussions are useful to examine how social knowledge is produced. The
researcher stimulates discussion in order to examine how knowledge and ideas develop and
operate in a given group. Most of the times, a facilitator guides a discussion about a particular
topic in a group of usually 6-12 people. Some sensitive issues might be more easy discussed
within a group, although other (personal) information might be withheld, for instance when
persons are acquainted with each other or because of hierarchical relations within the group.
The role of the facilitator is to create an open atmosphere, involve participants in the
discussion and manage this discussion. The organization of a focus group requires careful
attention. This includes the sampling and recruitment of participants, the composition of the
topic list and how the data will be collected.
Observational methods:
Observational methods are used to understand phenomena by studying people’s accounts and
actions in an everyday context. There are different types of observations, with various degrees
of research participation, like non-participating observation (e.g. by using video recordings),
and participant observation or ethnography. Ethnography ‘usually involves the researcher
participating, overtly or covertly, in people’s daily lives for an extended period of time,
watching what happens, listening to what is said, and/or asking questions through informal
and formal interviews, collecting documents and artifacts.
Document analysis
Document analysis is based on existing sources, like government reports, personal documents,
and articles in newspapers, books or medical records.

12)Grounded theory. What it is? Why is it used?


What is Grounded Theory?

Grounded theory involves the collection and analysis of data. The theory is “grounded” in
actual data, which means the analysis and development of theories happens after you have
collected the data. It was introduced by Glaser & Strauss in 1967 to legitimize qualitative
research. However, it’s use isn’t limited to qualitative studies; it is a general method that can
be applied to many areas of research.

To start the grounded theory process, you should:

1. Identify the area of interest.


2. Avoid preconceived theories and focus on the data only.
3. Use theoretical sensitivity— an awareness of subtle messages and meanings in data.

Research stops when you have reached theoretical saturation: the point where you have
sampled and analyzed your data until you have exhausted all theories and uncovered all data.

Grounded theory commonly uses the following data collection methods:

 Interviewing participants with open-ended questions.


 Participant Observation (fieldwork) and/or focus groups.
 Study of Artifacts and Texts

The general theory can be broken down into two parts: methods and products.

Methods
Grounded theory provides qualitative researchers with guidelines for collecting and analyzing
data. Although there are “probably as many versions of grounded theory as there were
grounded theorists” (Dey, 1999), all of the versions have the following aspects in common
(Charmaz, 2006):

1. Coding (labeling and categorizing) from collected data instead of relying on theories not
grounded in data.
2. Social processes are discovered in the data.
3. Abstract categories are constructed inductively.
4. Categories are refined using theoretical sampling.
5. The gap between coding and writing is bridged with analytical memos.
6. Categories are integrated into a theoretical framework.

In order to say that your research is based in grounded theory you must follow the explicit,
sequential guidelines. Employing just one or two methods does not make the study
“grounded.”

Products

Concurrent data analysis and data collection slows through a feedback loop.

Data analysis should happen at the same time as data collection. In other words, you shouldn’t
wait until all your data is collected before analyzing it; these methods should be fluid and
change if your data uncovers a new theory or potential direction. This type of concurrent data
analysis and data collection is often referred to as constant comparative analysis and
theoretical sampling.

Coding should be line by line, open coding: read through data several times, creating
summaries for the data using preliminary labels. Axial coding is used to create conceptual
families from the summaries, followed by selective coding which turns the families into a
formal framework with a variable that includes all of the collected data.

14 ) Research steps. What are the research steps?


The Seven Steps of the Research Process

 Step 1: Identify and Develop Your Topic. ...


 Step 2: Find Background Information. ...
 Step 3: Use Catalogs to Find Books and Media. ...
 Step 4: Use Databases to Find Journal Articles. ...
 Step 5: Find Internet Resources. ...
 Step 6: Evaluate What You Find. ...
 Step 7: Cite What You Find Using a Standard Format.

15)Definition of quantitative and qualitative research


Qualitative Research

Qualitative Research is primarily exploratory research. It is used to gain an understanding of


underlying reasons, opinions, and motivations. It provides insights into the problem or helps to
develop ideas or hypotheses for potential quantitative research. Qualitative Research is also used to
uncover trends in thought and opinions, and dive deeper into the problem. Qualitative data
collection methods vary using unstructured or semi-structured techniques. Some common methods
include focus groups (group discussions), individual interviews, and participation/observations. The
sample size is typically small, and respondents are selected to fulfil a given quota.

Quantitative Research

Quantitative Research is used to quantify the problem by way of generating numerical data or data
that can be transformed into usable statistics. It is used to quantify attitudes, opinions, behaviors,
and other defined variables – and generalize results from a larger sample population. Quantitative
Research uses measurable data to formulate facts and uncover patterns in research. Quantitative
data collection methods are much more structured than Qualitative data collection methods.
Quantitative data collection methods include various forms of surveys – online surveys, paper
surveys, mobile surveys and kiosk surveys, face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews, longitudinal
studies, website interceptors, online polls, and systematic observations.

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